Chicago Fire Re-Sign Manager Veljko Paunovic to Multi-Year Extension

The Chicago Fire are sticking with Serbian manager Veljko Paunovic for the future, deciding to re-sign the 41-year-old to a two-year deal. Paunovic’s new contract also contains a club option for the third year.

Paunovic’s coaching staff, which includes assistant coaches
Marko Mitrovic and Eric Gehrig, will also remain with the club.

NEWS | The Club has signed Head Coach @VPaunovic to a multi-year contract extension. 📝

“We believe the foundation we are setting and the
standards we are demanding are the right ones in developing our championship
program,” – said Chicago Fire president Nelson Rodriguez in a statement. “Continuity
is a critical element in that process and retaining [Paunovic] for the next few
years as a leader in that effort was an important offseason objective.”

Veljko Paunovic, who spent his early coaching career
managing Serbia’s youth teams and managed to win FIFA U20 World Cup title,
joined the Fire in 2015. After two below average seasons, he led the team to a
playoff appearance in 2017, their first since 2012. He couldn’t repeat the same
success in 2018, however, with Chicago finishing the season 10th in
Eastern Conference.

“I feel excited about this project as I was the very
first day three years ago when I became a part of the Chicago Fire Football
family,” – said Paunovic after signing a new deal. “I’m also very
grateful for this new opportunity with the club and the values that I’m fully
aligned and committed to representing in every city and field around the globe
and US.”